Moffat Gold Ingot

Catalog #: 1991.0357.0144 Accession #: 1991.0357

Credit: Numismatics, Division of Information Technology & Science, National Museum of American History

Maker

Moffat & Company (Manufacturer)

Moffat & Company, though not the first private coining establishment, was by far the most important in the first period of California private gold minting. They had one of the highest reputations of all the coining companies. This was affirmed by the Federal Government when it asked the two surviving members of the firm to initiate the United States Branch Mint in San Francisco. The first Moffat & Company advertisement was placed in two California newspapers on 21 June 1849. The advertisement announced the company's new smelting and assaying business. While it did not identify Moffat & Company as coiners, they probably began issuing their famous gold rectangular ingots soon after they opened for business. In an attempt to answer the acute need for coinage, Moffat & Company issued ingots, valued from $9.43 to $264.00, for about two months. Then they shifted to coins.